California State University – Northridge has been given the speech code rating Yellow. Yellow light colleges and universities are those institutions with at least one ambiguous policy that too easily encourages administrative abuse and arbitrary application. Read more here.

All recognized university employee groups and student organizations or clubs, or individual students and employees must obtain the appropriate Posting/Distribution of Literature Form … Distribution of materials may not occur until approval of time, place, and manner has been received.

Behaviors whether through conduct or expression which are not civil or respectful and which breach the peace within or around the residence halls or at any residence-hall related function are not permitted.

Students are expected to be good citizens and to engage in responsible behaviors that reflect well upon their university, to be civil to one another and to others in the campus community, and contribute positively to student and university life.

Harassment means unwelcome conduct, based on the Complainant’s Protected Status, that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that its effect, whether or not intended, could be considered by a reasonable person in the shoes of the Complainant, and is in fact considered by the Complainant, as limiting her/his ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or opportunities offered by the University.

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Sexual Harassment, a form of Sex Discrimination, is unwelcome verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that includes but is not limited to sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and any other conduct of a sexual nature where: … The conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that its effect, whether or not intended, could be considered by a reasonable person in the shoes of the Complainant, and is in fact considered by the Complainant, as creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.

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Sexual Harassment also includes acts of verbal, non-verbal or physical aggression, intimidation or hostility based on Gender or sex-stereotyping, even if those acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature.

No offensive or alcohol/drug-related materials may be posted in a public area or a place where they can be viewed from a public area (e.g. external unit door, balcony, in a visible place from windows, etc.).

Use of campus facilities may not be denied student/employee groups, clubs and organizations desiring the use of said facilities for the presentation of productions, films, and the like, simply by reason of a controversial content or appeal to prurient interests. However, such activities, as all other activities by student/employee clubs and organizations, must be regulated, monitored and/or supervised by the President’s designee. With respect to the aforementioned productions, films, and the like, the following recommendations shall govern:

Time, place, and manner of presentment shall be determined or approved by the president’s designee as identified herein;

Advertising of the event shall be limited to on-campus publications, bulletin boards and flyers distributed only on campus;

Information describing, generally, content or nature of the presentation shall be prominently posted at or near the entrance to the area in which the event is being held;

Only members of the campus community and bona fide guests of such members may be admitted;

The authorization or permit for such presentations may not be granted with such frequency as to constitute competition with similar presentations in communities in close proximity to the campus ….

By Colleen Flaherty at Inside Higher Ed Is academic freedom only for liberal professors? That’s what a controversial professor of English at California State University at Northridge says, as he faces possible disciplinary action for allegedly retaliating against a student who opposed his stance on adoptions by gay couples. “This isn’t even chilling to free speech, it’s made it so that I can’t relate to my students — I can’t trust them,” said Robert Oscar Lopez, an associate professor at Northridge who was accused of discrimination and threatening the learning environment of a student with whom he’d clashed over social issues. […]

Last week, historian and Baylor University professor George Gawrych was prevented from delivering a lecture at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) when students chanted repeatedly in protest until he left the room. According to the student newspaper, The Sundial, Gawrych’s planned lecture was to focus on a book he had written about Turkish army officer Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. As The Sundial reported, “Many Armenians feel that Gawrych’s book ‘The Young Atatürk: From Ottoman Soldier to Statesman of Turkey’ praises a leader who played a role in the Armenian genocide.” The protesting students comprised members of Armenian Youth Federation and the […]

I. Introduction While there is no shortage of free speech battles on college campuses, fraternities have the dubious honor of being at the center of many of the least sympathetic controversies. From Halloween parties where brothers show up dressed as Ku Klux Klan members to fraternity newsletters that graphically relate a brother’s sexual exploits with named co-eds, fraternities sometimes express themselves in ways that are not exactly likely to win the battle for hearts and minds. However, although fraternities may later regret the actions of some of their brothers, they must not allow their rights to be stripped away by […]